After hearing the news that my Mom dropped on me, it took me a while to recover from the shocking state.

I really didn’t know what was happening here. Most importantly, I didn’t know why my parents had taken the decision all of a sudden.

"Mom, how can you decide this for yourself without even asking me? Don't you guys think that I have the right to know about the important things happening in my life? I just can't do this, Mom. Please understand. I am not ready for this," I told them, trying to control myself from saying hurtful things.

"Do you think that I am asking for your opinion? No. I am just informing you. Whether you are willing or not, you are getting married. We didn't inform you beforehand because everything happened today itself. I know we are imposing our decision on you but trust me, I am doing this for your own good," she started in a stern voice but it softened towards the end.

"I can't see you still stuck in the past. I want the best for you. I can't see you punishing yourself for the crime that you didn’t commit. We never make any wrong decisions for you. Believe me, you won't regret it," she took a long breath and continued.

"We allowed you to do whatever you want, even when we knew what we would get to face in return. We lost our happiness. Our house lost its life. The single incident...just a single incident took away everything from us." She slumped on the sofa and covered her face with her hands.

"We can't even get to see our children and share their pain. I don't know why God is punishing us. This is the age where we should be enjoying our life but instead of that, we always have to worry for you and your brother," she said while crying.

"Please agree to it. Trust us and trust our decision. I want everything to get back to normal. It will happen only with your marriage. You can hate us all you want but agree to this. I have said what I want to say. It's totally up to you now." My Mom pleaded with me, her eyes full of tears.

I realized they did so much for me. They allowed me to do whatever I wanted. They are the best parents that anyone can ever get. I am really lucky to have them as my parents. What my Mom was saying was absolutely correct.

I was punishing myself for whatever happened in the past. I was staying away from them as I was feeling so guilty of snatching their happiness. I really didn’t know what to decide.

I was really not ready for the marriage thing but one thing that I was sure about, I could never hate them in this lifetime, and also, I couldn’t deny their wishes.

All the while, my Dad didn’t utter a single word but I knew that he was also with my Mom in that matter. I looked at him to know about his opinion. When I looked at him, he just nodded at me with a small smile, asking me to agree to the marriage.

After seeing his smile, I really felt assured and all my fears were dispersed immediately.

That's what I love in my dad, he never gives lengthy speeches but his gestures are enough to assure me that I got his back and would always be with me.

"Mom, I can never hate you guys. If my marriage will make you all happy, then I am ready to marry whoever you want," I told them. Even though I was not sure about this, I decided to trust them.

"Are you sure?" She asked me while dabbing her eyes.

"Yes,"

"Really? You made us so happy with your decision. Good!. I have a lot of work to do. When the astrologer told me that your marriage has to happen within a week as there are no suitable dates for the next six months, I agreed to it instantly. But I am regretting it now. How can everything be arranged in a week?” She slapped her forehead while saying this.

"Your grandfather went on a world tour with his friends. He is really enjoying his life to the fullest. And don’t even get me started with your brother. I really don't know anything about his whereabouts. He never picks our phone calls. Your Dad is aging and it's really hard for him to handle all the business by himself," she said with a sigh

"I really don't know when I will get back my cheerful and naughty children," she sighed. "I think I am digressing. The thing is, how can we both handle everything in such a small period? I really don't know what to do now." After her initial happiness, my Mom started her rant while pacing around the hall.

My Dad was smiling after listening to her. I felt really happy seeing them like that.

"Mom, you don't need to worry about all these things. I just want a simple wedding. Even a ritual in the temple is fine with me," I told her to ease her worries.

"What? How can we get you married in such a simple way? You are our one and only daughter. Marriage only happens once in a lifetime. I won't agree with you." My mom refused immediately, to which I looked at my Dad to convince her.

"Let this happen as per her wish. Agreeing to this marriage itself is a huge thing. So just do everything as per her liking. Don't force her anymore." My dad said with a finality in his tone. My mom was reluctant but agreed to it eventually.

"I am going now. Rest early Mom and Dad," I said to them as I was really in need of fresh air to ease myself.

"Wait. Go after having your dinner. I will call your friends in a while and inform them about your marriage. You guys are going to stay here until your wedding. So tomorrow, come along with them. Don't try to argue in this matter," she said in a strict tone and I agreed to it as I didn’t have much say in the matter.

After having dinner, I stood up to take my leave. I had to go back to my flat and needed to know the opinion of my friends.

"Okay. I will get going then." After saying this, I started walking but stopped remembering something.

"By the way, to whom am I going to get married?" I asked them without turning back.

"Haha. I was really waiting for you to ask me this. I think you know him. His name is Arjun and he is the son of Mrs. Sarada. I hope you got your answer now," she said, making me turn to see her immediately.

"What? Did he agree to this marriage?" I asked her, knowing very well that he wouldn’t be an easy person to manipulate and I was sure that he would never agree to this marriage but her answer made me stood there with mouth agape.

"He already agreed to this marriage, and close your mouth. It's getting late. You should get going." After saying this, she started going upstairs coolly.

I didn't know how I reached my car. I started driving, still unable to recover from the shock.

"That rude guy being my prospective groom itself is quite a shock to me but him, agreeing to this marriage is totally unexpected. Till now, I was thinking so highly of him. Nah! He is no better than me. He is still a son to his mother. Haha! I am sure Sarada Aunty might have done something to make him agree. Oh, God! Why am I gleeful over that poor guy's plight when my own condition itself is not any better? Hmph! Mom, well played. Let me get my hands on the one who is the mastermind behind all this marriage thing, I will show them what I am capable of," I thought in my mind.

Mrs. Sarada who was playing with her mobile suddenly started sneezing continuously.

She immediately looked at Arjun who was doing something on his laptop. She shook her head after looking at him.

"Nah! My Ajju is definitely not the one who is scolding me. I think Daksha already got to know about this marriage. So, she might be the one who is planning something against me. I don't know what I have to face to get these both buddhas married." She thought while releasing sigh after sigh.

Arjun looked at her irritably after hearing her continuous sighs. She smiled at him sheepishly.

"Oh my Ajju, carry on with your work. You can't understand the worries of this poor soul." After saying that, she busied herself on her mobile